Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Toronto Internment Hotel


15, 2009

Mr. David Miller, Mayor
Toronto City Hall,
2nd Floor, 100 Queen St. West,
Toronto ON M5H 2N2


Dear Mayor Miller:
Re: CNE Hotel and Stanley Barracks Site


It is our understanding that the Toronto City Council recently approved the development of a hotel facility on
the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. It is generally appreciated that a hotel on this site will
enhance the use and enjoyment of these grounds.

I am writing to bring to your attention the fact that the hotel will be built adjacent to the Stanley Barracks. This
site is recognized as an historic site, and was used as an internment camp for "enemy aliens" during Canada's
first national internment operations of 1914-1920 where thousands of Ukrainians and other Eastern European
were unjustly interned. Recently the government of Canada recognized this tragedy and a trilingual historical
marker

was placed at Stanley Barracks to commemorate this unfortunate episode in our nation's history.
As one of the communities that were subjected to the internment operations, the Ukrainian Canadian community is concerned about the impact this hotel development may have on this historic site. I would be most grateful if you would let me know how this hotel development will take into consideration the existence of the Stanley Barracks historic site and internment camp area.
We would be pleased to appoint a representative of our community to work with your office and the developers of this hotel to ensure that the development pays due respect to the site, by, for example, not overcrowding it, or perhaps by incorporating it into the hotel design, to make it part of the attraction of the site for visitors. It is
important to maintain appropriate access to the site for purposes of commemorative ceremonies and educational
activities which will be developed by the Canada First World War Internment Fund, recently established by the
federal government.

I look forward to your early reply.
Yours truly,


Paul Grod, National President
paul.grod@ucc.ca
(905) 625-9900 x225
cc: Joe Pantalone, Councillor Ward 19, City of Toronto
Gloria Lindsay Luby, Councillor Ward 4, City of Toronto